Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont Calls for Marijuana Legalization in State of State Address; SAM Responds

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont called upon the state to commercialize marijuana during his annual State of the State address.

Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and a former senior drug policy advisor to the Obama Administration, released the following statement in response:

“In the midst of an unprecedented respiratory pandemic and overdose epidemic, it is a terrible idea to commercialize high potency marijuana, a drug that can not only compromise your lungs and immune system but also bring about serious mental health issues. It’s a risky proposition for Connecticut, and won’t make anyone other than a handful of mostly white investors rich.

“Furthermore, tax revenues wouldn’t be realized for years to come. Leadership in Hartford needs to be laser-focused on addressing the fallout from the pandemic, not debating on how best to enrich Big Pot’s investors.

“We will continue to work with a broad coalition of folks in the state to stand for good policy and urge the legislature to reject legalization, as they have in previous years. We’re confident we will prevail.”